Advancing Mid-Career Women in Academia: The Role of Strategic Policies and Transparent Practices in Shaping Faculty Success

Victoria L. Turgeon
,
Mary Katherine Watson
,
Chrystal D. Bruce
,
Patricia M. Flatt
,
Elizabeth S. Roberts-Kirchhoff
,
Sarah R. Kirk

Furman University
,
The Citadel - The Military College of South Carolina
,
John Carroll University
,
Western Oregon University
,
University of Detroit Mercy
,
Hobart and William Smith Colleges

Research Output:

Contribution to journal

Article

Peer-review

Abstract

The need to retain women faculty in STEM fields has led to programs for assistant professors, but midcareer faculty have not received the same intentional support; furthermore, they also face new challenges that hinder their career progression. A survey of mid-career faculty participating in a National Science Foundation (NSF) funded program reveals that unclear and rigid promotion conditions, heavy service loads that go unrewarded, lack of sufficient mentoring, and underappreciation for non-technical scholarly work are barriers to advancement. To address these issues, we recommend the development of clear and inclusive promotion requirements and processes, formal mentoring opportunities, and equitable service load policies.

Bibliographic Information

Output type

Research Output:

Contribution to journal

Article

Peer-review

Original language

American English

Pages from-to (Number of pages)

Pages 65-79

Journal (Volume, Issue Number)

Journal of Faculty Development (Volume 39, Issue 3)

Publication milestones

Published - 2025

Publication status

Published - 2025

ISSN

2153-1900